In February 2026, Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) voted to begin discussions with the U.S. National Institutes of Health about potentially converting the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) into a primate sanctuary where no research would be conducted. If implemented, this would mark a major shift for one of the largest primate research facilities in the United States, home to nearly 5,000 nonhuman primates and involved in hundreds of biomedical and behavioral studies.
The proposal has been welcomed by animal advocacy groups but strongly opposed by many researchers, who argue that ONPRC plays a critical role in infectious disease, fertility, neuroscience, and dementia research nationwide. Financial and logistical challenges remain significant, with an estimated conversion cost of $220–291 million over eight years, driven largely by infrastructure changes and long-term animal care.
OHSU emphasized that the vote initiates a review process rather than a final decision, including a pause on nonessential primate breeding. Whether federal funding would support such a transition remains uncertain, leaving the future of the center unresolved.
Research article: In unprecedented move, giant monkey research center may become a primate sanctuary
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